The Odyssey, written sometime in the 8th century BCE (although some scholars would place it in the 6th century BCE), is an epic poem of more than 12,000 lines organised by scholars in Alexandria into 24 books. The Odyssey is the first, and for many, still the best page-turner ever written. The reader is in equal measures thrilled and exasperated, just like Odysseus himself, with every new setback and wills the hero to finally make it home. The Odyssey is such a timeless story not only for its terrifying monsters, rip-roaring action scenes, and wealth of information on Mediterranean geography and legends but also because it involves the irresistible plot line of a worthy hero trying desperately to get back to his city, his family, and his throne. For the Greeks, the story occurred sometime in the 13th century BCE during the Bronze Age, in a heroic golden era much better than today's sorry state of affairs. The mythical king sails back to Ithaca with his men after the Trojan War but is beset by all kinds of delays and misadventures where he battles monsters and storms but also resists (eventually) the advances of beautiful women in the knowledge that, all the while, his faithful wife Penelope is awaiting him. During the reunion, Athena is full of admiration, categorizing both herself and the cunning Odysseus as “old hands at the arts of intrigue.Homer's Odyssey is an epic poem written in the 8th century BCE which describes the long voyage home of the Greek hero Odysseus. Athena defines herself as Odysseus' helper, ally, and protector as the goddess presiding over intelligent warfare and the crafts, she is eager to “weave a scheme” in order to get rid of the suitors threatening Odysseus' domain over Ithaca. And now I am here once more, to weave a scheme with you and to hide the treasure-trove Phaeacia’s nobles lavished on you then -I willed it, planned it so when you set out for home -and to tell you all the trials you must suffer in your palace.” (13.329-48)Īthena speaks these lines, revealing her identity, after Odysseus has finally returned to the shores of Ithaca. Ah, but you never recognized me, did you? Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus -who always stands beside you, shields you in every exploit: thanks to me the Phaeacians all embraced you warmly. Here among mortal men you’re far the best at tactics, spinning yarns, and I am famous among the gods for wisdom, cunning wiles, too. We’re both old hands at the arts of intrigue. “Any man -any god who met you -would have to be some champion lying cheat to get past you for all-round craft and guile! You terrible man, foxy, ingenious, never tired of twists and tricks - so, not even here, on native soil, would you give up those wily tales that warm the cockles of your heart! Come, enough of this now. Later on in this scene, Odysseus himself weeps as he listens to the tale Demodocus tells. Odysseus praises Demodocus for his skill as a storyteller, which "surely the Muse has taught ," and his ability to express powerful, "true to life" emotions and experiences. In these lines, Odysseus asks the blind bard Demodocus to regale him with his own story-the story of the Trojan War. ![]() Sing that for me -true to life as it deserves - and I will tell the world at once how freely the Muse gave you the gods’ own gift of song.” (8.544-558) Epeus built with Athena’s help, the cunning trap that good Odysseus brought one day to the heights of Troy, filled with fighting men who laid the city waste. you sing the Achaeans’ fate, all they did and suffered, all they soldiered through, as if you were there yourself or heard from one who was. “Odysseus, master of many exploits, praised the singer: I respect you, Demodocus, more than any man alive - surely the Muse has taught you, Zeus’s daughter, or god Apollo himself. The passage begins with an invocation of the muse and a request for the story of "the man of twists and turns." As readers, we learn that we are about to hear the tale of Odysseus-“the man of twists and turns"-who went on a long, difficult journey and attempted (but failed) to bring his comrades home. These opening lines provide a brief synopsis of the plot of the poem. ![]() ![]() Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus, start from where you will -sing for our time too.” (1.1-12) But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove - the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all, the blind fools, they devoured the cattle of the Sun and the Sungod wiped from sight the day of their return. Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds, many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea, fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home. “Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again off course, once he had plundered the hallowed heights of Troy.
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